Nutrient Functions & Interactions

All plants, whether it be corn, soybeans, wheat, cotton, cranberries, or canola, require nutrients for proper growth and development. About 90-95% of plant dry matter is composed of carbon, hydrogen, and/or oxygen. The remaining 5-10% is obtained from the soil and/or from fertilizer supplied by the grower. We may understand the importance of primary nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) in achieving production goals that are set each year, however, we often forget the importance of secondary nutrients (calcium, magnesium, sulfur) and micronutrients (boron, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum, zinc) in the overall process of plant growth and development. Although these nutrients are required in much smaller quantities, they are essential for completion of many physiological cycles and processes within the plant. In many cases, plants cannot fully utilize primary nutrients without adequate supplies of secondary and/or micronutrients supplied at the appropriate time. Below is a listing of functions these nutrients provide within the plant.